Peace Concert in Knock Shrine

Knock Shrine is preparing for one of the most exciting events to be held over the summer months as the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, together with Cór Mhaigh Eo perform for the first time in the beautifully refurbished Basilica. The Peace Concert is to commemorate the 1916 Rising and the first World War. The concert will be the first such event to take place in the beautiful surrounds of the Basilica and is being staged by the Mayo International Choral Festival.

Mezzo soprano Anne Marie Gibbons and tenor Owen Gilhooly, who have performed in many prestigious operatic venues around the world, will front the concert while members of the Ballina Chamber Choir, Cór Mhaigh Eo and Dún Laoghaire Choral Society will form a 120-strong choir. Acclaimed Hollywood composer Patrick Cassidy, and one of Ireland’s leading conductors today, David Brophy, are also part of the project.

The concert will feature excerpts from the international choral sensation – The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace, by the Welsh composer, Sir Karl Jenkins. The powerful and inspiring choral piece was composed to mark the millennium in 2000 and has since been performed over 1,000 times in more than 20 different countries with over 15 gold and platinum awards. In addition, the orchestra will perform a special piece composed by Patrick Cassidy for the 1916 commemoration. Mr Cassidy is a hugely successful composer who is originally from Co Mayo but is now based in LA. He is a recent recipient of the ‘Creative Talent Award 2015’ at the Richard Harris International Film Festival and has worked on the musical scores of major Hollywood movies, such as Hannibal, Veronica Guerin, Kingdom of Heaven and Calvary. A-Concert-for-Peace. More information available at www.mayochoral.com

Tickets cost €25 and €15 (restricted viewing) and are available from the Knock Shrine information office (opposite the Parish Church); the Book Shop at Knock Shrine; and Downtown Records Castlebar and Westport. Tickets are also available online from www.eventbrite.ie